Honda GL1000 finished

[James England]

Hi Folks. I got the restoration finished on the Honda GL1000 that I posted about a while ago. The bike is actually a 1975 but was first registered for use in 1977. They didn't sell too well here in the UK at first and this one must have sat in a showroom for a while. I did find the restoration vastly harder than the XS1100 though. It's a complicated engine, with lots of nooks and crannies, loads of chrome etc etc .

I've taken some 'official' pix and here they are:

[natemoen]

You do amazing work James! Well done!

[Wildkat]

VERY nice, James!

Well done!
(again)

[James England]

The handling is really excellent on this bike and the riding position is a lot lower than on an XS1100. Actually, given that many ladies are smaller, it's an ideal bike for them, I'd say. Or for someone who does't have the height required for an XS1100.

The engine is powerful and fast but it doesn't have the oomph factor of the XS1100 and the engine doesn't woof when revved (if you see what I mean)... it's more like a car when revved.

Having said that, it's a nice, comfortable and excellent handling ride..

[Wildkat]

Good to know.

At least one of the girls will be wanting a bike before too long (okay, one of them already wants one). Of course, they're both taller than me so height might not be as much of an issue for them.
Ahem
lol

Glad you're enjoying it!

[RODS454]

Nice!

Well done James. Although I wasn't a fan of the early wings, that is a beautiful restoration. I have a 2002 wing now, and it accelerates as hard as my '80 XS11 special. Which is pretty amazing for a bike that size.

[DGXSER]

Very well done James!! Nice restoration! Looks amazing, and yeah, more complicated than an XS11.

[James England]

Thanks everyone. The GL1000 is only a couple of years older than the XS1100 but it does feel like it's from a different era in many ways. I must confess, I do prefer the XS1100.... the GL is 20 lbs dry weight heavier and it has some peculiarities. For example, there is an indicator buzzer which beeps loudly when you put the blinkers on (now silenced!). The blinker switch clicks into position rather than the slick XS1100 one and the switchgear is generally clunky and primitive looking. Spoked wheels look retro but there's a hell of a lot of polishing in them! To me, the instrument dials look ancient, possibly because they are round.

The engine is smooth and very quiet but it does feel like sitting on a car, rather than riding a motorbike, although the handling is fantastic. I had two of these in the late 1970's (hence buying this one).

I suppose I must be a dyed-in -the-wool XS1100 fanatic. To me, there is something about the XS1100 that's... shall we say... mean? Y'know, restrained power, great styling but with a bad streak somewhere. However, the GL1000 lacks that. It's generally clunkier and feels civilised but no way could you say it's mean.... It's pretty fast and powerful but in a way that my granddad would have liked, I reckon.

All in all, it's nice to have the choice of rides though. They are both now taxed and tested and insured and roadworthy, so I've been chopping and changing a bit.....

[old_skool]

noticed a screw missing from the tank emblem, didn't know if you knew or forgot, hate to see it get snagged on someones pantleg or jacket and bend the crap out of it. Or is it in there and just hard to see?

[crazy steve]

Beautiful job, and while I've never been a fan of the 'Wing styling, this one almost makes me like it....

So what's next? Maybe a nice Triumph or Norton restore?....

Just kidding....

[James England]

noticed a screw missing from the tank emblem, didn't know if you knew or forgot, hate to see it get snagged on someones pantleg or jacket and bend the crap out of it. Or is it in there and just hard to see?

Aha! Well spotted. The badges are replica ones and have two studs at the back which go through the 'tank'. This leaves two 'decorative' holes and I put a screw head in one of them with superglue and forgot that one. You win a the classic bike 'Eagle Eye' medal. Good point re the trouser leg though!

[James England]

Beautiful job, and while I've never been a fan of the 'Wing styling, this one almost makes me like it....

So what's next? Maybe a nice Triumph or Norton restore?....

Just kidding....

Thanks Steve. I did all my Triumph and Norton restorations when my Triumphs and Norton were less than 5 years old!

Re the GL styling... I understand why someone wouldn't like it. I'm not 100% convinced that I do. Part of me thinks it's an ungainly lump and then another part thinks it's an engineering feat. Strangely enough, I kind of value it more now than I did in 1977 when I had two of them. One thing's for sure, it certainly looks dated and retro and, for the time, it was a hell of a feat.

What do you think of the CBX1000? I was thinking of one of those next...

[3Phase]

NICE work there, James!

You have a knack for restoring bikes so for your next project bike just look around, you'll find something.

[jetmechmarty]

How about a Z1? They have some parts support.

You do fine work! This one could be "sponge worthy".

[crazy steve]

What do you think of the CBX1000? I was thinking of one of those next...

The CBX is a big-money bike here (in restored condition), and the parts appear to be rather expensive too. No idea how hard the parts are to find (although from judging from some of the prices I've seen, maybe fairly hard), that's something you'd probably want to research before attempting one...